MS 1024 - McKarns Family Papers
MLA Citation
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| Title | MS 1024 - McKarns Family Papers |
|---|---|
| Introduction | The McKarns Family Papers consists of three linear feet of correspondence, genealogical research files, newspaper clippings, literary productions and photographs relating to the McKarns and allied families. The donation and transfer of these records to the Center for Archival Collections was arranged through the cooperation of Thomas Edson Doughten of Toledo, Ohio, in April 2005. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. The register was completed by Stephen W. Badenhop, Archival Assistant, in June 2008. |
| Biographical Sketch | The materials contained in this collection were assembled by Florence Bernice Werder McKarns (1911-2005) from the 1960s to the 1990s. Florence, known as Bernice, was born August 5, 1911, in Stringtown, Williams County, Ohio. She was the daughter of John and Florence Hamet Werder. After her mother's death when she two years old, she was raised by her uncle and aunt Cort and Jennie Hamet Miller. Bernice spent most of her life in Williams County. She moved to Bryan where she attended Bryan High School; graduating in 1929. In 1933, she graduated from the Ohio State University and served as a fourth grade teacher at Park Elementary School in Bryan. Bernice was a member of West Unity United Methodist Church, Jefferson Rural Garden Club, Williams County Genealogical Society and Top of Ohio Organ Club. She conducted genealogical research on her husband's family, as well as her own family. Since both families resided in the Bryan area, there is much information on the community, Williams County and area families. Many families are represented by correspondence including Brannan, Copeland, Finch, Hamet, Luthey, Miller, McQuilkin, Smith and Werder families among others. She kept detailed notes of all correspondence along with documents concerning various families. Bernice married James Russell "Stubby" McKarns, known as Russell, on June 27, 1936. Russell was born on March 12, 1912, to Charles and Clela Belle Smith McKarns. He graduated from Bryan High School in 1931. Russell and Bernice had two sons, James and John. John in turn had two sons of his own, Geoffrey and Gregory. Bernice and Russell celebrated their life together for over sixty-three years until Russell died on June 7, 2000, followed by Bernice on October 25, 2005. |
| Scope and Content | The McKarns Family Papers consists of research material compiled by Florence Bernice Werder McKarns relationed to her and her spouse's family history. The collection comprises three linear feet of materials. Families represented include: Baldwin, Brannan, Copeland, Drum, Dustin, Fankhouser, Fife, Finch, Gaskill, Habeggar, Hamet, Hutchinson, Laughlin, Lindesmith, Lohrey, Luthy, Mattoon, McCarron, McGuire, McKarns, McQuilken, Miller, Owen, Richard, Smith, Steinman, Warren, Weithrich and Werder families. Included in the collection are correspondence, family subject files, general subject files, legal documents, family histories, research notes, newsclippings, maps, pedigree charts, printed materials and photographs. The collection contains a nice series of research related correspondence between Florence and other researchers and family members conducting genealogical research. Also, included in the correspondence are a couple interesting letters to Florence from her grandfather John F. Hamet discussing his early childhood memories of the Civil War. Another interesting letter is a copy of a letter from a soldier, while serving in the Mexican War. Finally another useful series of correspondence is letters between the Johann Ulrich Steinman in Germany and his daughter Christina Steinman Werder living in America relating news and observations. The family subject files, general subject files, copies of related legal documents, family histories, research notes, newsclippings, pedigree charts and photographs make up a majority of the collection. These various items contain detailed information about the families stated above. Specifically interesting is the McKarns Family and Werder Family History publications written by James S. and Florence Bernice McKarns respectively. Also of interest is the large assortment of obituaries and photographs of various family members from the mid 1800s to the late 1990s. |
| Series Description | CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE - FLORENCE McKARNS & MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE - MISCELLANOUS SUBJECT FILES FAMILY SUBJECT FILES SUBJECT FILES LITERARY PRODUCTIONS MANUSCRIPTS (LITERARY) RESEARCH NOTES LEGAL DOCUMENTS LEGAL DOCUMENTS SCRAPBOOK AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS NEWSCLIPPINGS MAPS, CHARTS, DIAGRAMS, GRAPHS, LISTS, ETC. MAPS PEDIGREE CHARTS PRINTED MATERIAL PRINTED MATERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS |
| Inventory | Box 1: Correspondence Folders
Box 2: Subject Files Folders
Box 3: Subject Files Folders
Box 4: Subject Files, Literary Productions Folders
Box 5: Literary Productions Folders
Box 6: Legal Documents, Scrapbooks & Scrapbook Materials Folders
Box 7: Maps and Charts Folders
Box 8: Printed Materials Folders
Box 9: Photographs Folders
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